Widow's Voice

Lisa Begin-Kruysman

About Lisa Begin-Kruysman

Originally from New Jersey, artist/writer/blogger Lisa Begin-Kruysman now calls Southeast Georgia and Florida home. It was during a road trip in October 2021, when she and her husband Rich, who served militarily as a Navy Corpsman, were returning south after celebrating their 25th Wedding Anniversary, that he became ill, passing just three weeks later. The author of several books, including Dog's Best Friend (McFarland & Co. 2014) mostly inspired by the special human-canine bond, Lisa serves on the Board of Directors for the Dog Writers Association of America and now returns to blogging posting for Widow's Voice with the intention of sharing her personal experience of widowhood with those who know the struggles first-hand and to perhaps help those who struggle to understand the daily challenges facing those who've lost a spouse or significant other. She is currently writing a memoir about her Widowed Experience and the comfort she has derived from her relationship with dogs.

The Art of Thanksgrieving

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How did everyone do with the Thanksgiving Holiday? I know Soaring Spirits is an organization with an international membership, so for some of you, it really was just “another day”.  For many in the US, however, Thanksgiving is a day filled with the expectation of being surrounded by family, food and friends. I have had […]

A Place in The Sun

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Happy Birthday Jackson! Yesterday, Jackson, our local hound-lab mix rescue, turned the Big One according to his adoption records. He was one of a litter of nine brought to the shelter as they struggled to live, slowly nursed back to health. I met Jackson and his littemates when they were already 3 months-old while touring […]

Living Lighter

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While I write this, I’m currently staying in Southeast Georgia, continuing to clean out my home that is currently listed for sale. I love this spacious sunny space, the Dream Home purchased with my late husband, Rich, back in in 2020.  The continuing process of “Letting Go” is difficult. In some ways, it seems even […]

True Story

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In going through my archives, a memory of a New Jersey Holiday event brought a nostalgic moment. In my “past life” as a Full-time Working Artist, The Holly Berry  Boutique held each year at the Upper Montclair Woman’s Club in Northern North Jersey was always a beloved occasion for me, my fellow artists, family and […]

Remembering All Souls

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This time of year brings the inevitable reckoning of a three year milestone. Each day, my Social Media feeds deliver me back to those days that changed my life forever. It is a blessing and a curse to be able to relive, in what sometimes feels like real-time, the events leading up to the day […]

Cones of Uncertainty

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I thank Mary Moore Hughes for posting for me last Saturday. Living in Central Florida, we’d found ourself twice in a brief span of time in what is called The Cone of Uncertainty, and uncertainty it does bring. Being without internet made it impossible for me to post and I asked Mary to present a […]

A Toast to My Mom

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In last week’s post, I shared that October First marked my Second Blogaversary here at Widow’s Voice. There are seven of us bloggers in this space, one for each day of the week, walking the Widowed Path sharing our unique widowed worlds, facing our challenges complete with high points and the lows. Although the circumstances […]

A Year at Crescent Haven

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In processing grief, I often hear people use the term, “Moving On”. But, most who are recovering from the trauma of losing a loved one prefer “Moving Forward”. Some might ask, “What’s the difference?” If you Move On, the implication is that we’ve left something behind; forgetting, or letting go of, some place, or somebody, […]